Plastic is a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products. There are two types of plastics, thermoplastic and thremosat. Thermoplastics are plastics if exposed to heat will melt. Examples of thermoplastics are grocery bags, piano keys, and some automoblie parts. Thremosat plastic however will keep its shape until it’s burned or charred. Examples of Thermosat plastics are children's dinner sets and circuit boards. The word Plastic comes from the Greek word, platikos which means fit for moulding, a term which perfectly describes the malleability of plastic during, and sometimes after (in the case of Thermoplastics) its production.
History of Plastic 1862 – Parkesine §Too expensive §Made of collodion (Ether, alcohol & natural cellulose) 1869 – Celluloid §Was used to make imitation ivory billiard balls but exploded on contact §First thermoplastic §In 1888 they made it flexible 1909 – Bakelite §First plastic made of fossil fuels §It was an essential ingredient in most of the weapons in WWII §Sold to chemical giant, Union Carbide 1920 – Rayon & Cellophane §J.E. Brandenberger rolled rayon into flexible, moisture proof packing. §Rayon was the first artificial replacement for silk §In the 1930’s, over 80% of dresses contained rayon in the U.S. 1926 – Vinyl (Polyvinyl chloride [PVC]) §Very toxic – Releases cancer causing dioxins and other chemicals in production and disposal (liver, brain, lung cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, liver cirrhosis) 1935 – Nylon & Neoprene 1936 – Polyethylene §Very popular – produced more than a billion pounds per year §Mainly used in consumer products (i.e. Plastic bags) 1949 – Tupperware 1950-60’s – Plastic Mania §Corvette was the first car to add plastic parts §Today the average car is 10% plastic 1970’s – Toxic Fears (DDT & PCB) §PCB can cause cancer and damage to the immune system 1980-2008 - Polar fleece & Pollution §Super fibers – “breathable” Gore-Tex® is a form of Teflon §Kevlar – Bullet proof plastic §Study shows cancer clusters near industrial plants
The biggest threat the plastic industry has are the environmental concerns. The release of pollutants, greenhouse gases, litter, biodegradable and non-biodegradable landfill are also imapcts of the plastic industry (See Global Warming for more information on how these impact the Earth). A recent concern has arisen as large amounts of plastic are being found in the oceans. These large quanties of plastic trash are called ocean gyres. It recent years the price of plastics has been rising and the cost of petrolum is not far behind.
Manufacturing plastic bottles use large amounts of fossil fuels. Shipping them out equals more greenhouse gases. Estimates say that Americans buy 29 billion bottles of water, which uses up 17 million barrels of oil. Plastic bottles are often made by PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) which produces three tons of CO2 so 2.5 million tons are released each year.
However, along with the environmental concerns of plastics comes the health concerns. For example, polycarbonates, a particular group of thermoplastic polymers contain a chemical called bisphenol A that leeches into the food that it comes in contact with. Polycarboantes are often found in baby bottles, aluminum cans, pop cans, nalgene bottles, generic polycarbonate water bottles, sunglasses, eyeglasses, safety glasses, coffee makers, consumer electronics, laptop computers, CDs, DVDs, and dental sealants. This chemical is wildly known to mimic the human hormone estrogen. Based on the limited number of studies that have examined everyday contact with bisphenol A, the chemical may increase the risk of miscarriages and polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that can cause infertility, ovarian cysts, and baldness in women. Studies have also been done concerning the effects of bisphenol A on animals. The chemical has been linked to obesity, prostate and mammary gland cancers, early onset of puberty, reproductive-organ defects, reduced sperm counts, altered mammary glands, and difficulty getting pregnant. Scientists also found that low doses of bisphenol A received prenatally had lasting effects throughout an animal's lifespan. Another example of the health dangers of plastic is the chemical polyvinyl chloride, a chemical found in children's toys, vinyl floors, wallpaper, shower curtains, vinyl bibs, and cosmetics, including lotions, shampoos, nail polish and a number of medical supplies. Studies have also found that PVC may cause side effects such as decreased lung function, increased weight, increased resistance to insulin, low sperm count, and DNA damage to sperm. It has also been found the exposure to phthalates in PVC may negatively effect the reproductive development of infant males, resulting in undescended testes, smaller scrota, and smaller penises.
For more information on the steps that plastics and other consumer products go through in order for us to buy and consume them, see Materials Economy.
Plastic is a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products. There are two types of plastics, thermoplastic and thremosat. Thermoplastics are plastics if exposed to heat will melt. Examples of thermoplastics are grocery bags, piano keys, and some automoblie parts. Thremosat plastic however will keep its shape until it’s burned or charred. Examples of Thermosat plastics are children's dinner sets and circuit boards. The word Plastic comes from the Greek word, platikos which means fit for moulding, a term which perfectly describes the malleability of plastic during, and sometimes after (in the case of Thermoplastics) its production.
History of Plastic
1862 – Parkesine
§ Too expensive
§ Made of collodion (Ether, alcohol & natural cellulose)
1869 – Celluloid
§ Was used to make imitation ivory billiard balls but exploded on contact
§ First thermoplastic
§ In 1888 they made it flexible
1909 – Bakelite
§ First plastic made of fossil fuels
§ It was an essential ingredient in most of the weapons in WWII
§ Sold to chemical giant, Union Carbide
1920 – Rayon & Cellophane
§ J.E. Brandenberger rolled rayon into flexible, moisture proof packing.
§ Rayon was the first artificial replacement for silk
§ In the 1930’s, over 80% of dresses contained rayon in the U.S.
1926 – Vinyl (Polyvinyl chloride [PVC])
§ Very toxic – Releases cancer causing dioxins and other chemicals in production and disposal (liver, brain, lung cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, liver cirrhosis)
1935 – Nylon & Neoprene
1936 – Polyethylene
§ Very popular – produced more than a billion pounds per year
§ Mainly used in consumer products (i.e. Plastic bags)
1949 – Tupperware
1950-60’s – Plastic Mania
§ Corvette was the first car to add plastic parts
§ Today the average car is 10% plastic
1970’s – Toxic Fears (DDT & PCB)
§ PCB can cause cancer and damage to the immune system
1980-2008 - Polar fleece & Pollution
§ Super fibers – “breathable” Gore-Tex® is a form of Teflon
§ Kevlar – Bullet proof plastic
§ Study shows cancer clusters near industrial plants
The biggest threat the plastic industry has are the environmental concerns. The release of pollutants, greenhouse gases, litter, biodegradable and non-biodegradable landfill are also imapcts of the plastic industry (See Global Warming for more information on how these impact the Earth). A recent concern has arisen as large amounts of plastic are being found in the oceans. These large quanties of plastic trash are called ocean gyres. It recent years the price of plastics has been rising and the cost of petrolum is not far behind.
Manufacturing plastic bottles use large amounts of fossil fuels. Shipping them out equals more greenhouse gases. Estimates say that Americans buy 29 billion bottles of water, which uses up 17 million barrels of oil. Plastic bottles are often made by PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) which produces three tons of CO2 so 2.5 million tons are released each year.
However, along with the environmental concerns of plastics comes the health concerns. For example, polycarbonates, a particular group of thermoplastic polymers contain a chemical called bisphenol A that leeches into the food that it comes in contact with. Polycarboantes are often found in baby bottles, aluminum cans, pop cans, nalgene bottles, generic polycarbonate water bottles, sunglasses, eyeglasses, safety glasses, coffee makers, consumer electronics, laptop computers, CDs, DVDs, and dental sealants. This chemical is wildly known to mimic the human hormone estrogen. Based on the limited number of studies that have examined everyday contact with bisphenol A, the chemical may increase the risk of miscarriages and polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that can cause infertility, ovarian cysts, and baldness in women. Studies have also been done concerning the effects of bisphenol A on animals. The chemical has been linked to obesity, prostate and mammary gland cancers, early onset of puberty, reproductive-organ defects, reduced sperm counts, altered mammary glands, and difficulty getting pregnant. Scientists also found that low doses of bisphenol A received prenatally had lasting effects throughout an animal's lifespan. Another example of the health dangers of plastic is the chemical polyvinyl chloride, a chemical found in children's toys, vinyl floors, wallpaper, shower curtains, vinyl bibs, and cosmetics, including lotions, shampoos, nail polish and a number of medical supplies. Studies have also found that PVC may cause side effects such as decreased lung function, increased weight, increased resistance to insulin, low sperm count, and DNA damage to sperm. It has also been found the exposure to phthalates in PVC may negatively effect the reproductive development of infant males, resulting in undescended testes, smaller scrota, and smaller penises.
For more information on the steps that plastics and other consumer products go through in order for us to buy and consume them, see Materials Economy.